Archive for
January, 2018

FORBIDDEN SEASONS Drop Video For New Single ‘THANK YOU FOR THE VENOM’ New Album ‘PROMISE’ Out March 16th

Italian metal band Forbidden Seasons recently premiered the lead single, “Thank you For The Venom,” from their forthcoming, highly anticipated debut album, Promise, which will be available on March 16th from This Is Core Records. Following the single release, the band has now dropped an incendiary new video for the track.

The video for “Thank You For The Venom” was produced by Lucernafilms and features actress Riae Suicide. The song, and album, was composed by Forbidden Seasons with artistic direction and recording from Heavy Tones Recordings Studio and mixed/mastered at Studio Fredman.

“The song “Thank You For The Venom” talks about an ill relationship with someone very dear to me. They played with my life; tried to take advantage of my weaknesses and of my unconditional love and all they did was turn my love into hatred, into venom, consuming my soul. When in times of need this person tried to get back in touch, however they managed to make me feel even worse. They made me numb even though in my veins flows their own rotten blood.” – Mark Seasons (vocals)

Combining elements of metal, metalcore and post-hardcore, Forbidden Seasons crafts a well-balanced sonic assault that is equal parts vicious and melodic as heard on the band’s standout, first track “Thank You For The Venom.”

Forbidden Seasons formed in 2016 and is made up by 5 members, Mark, Symon, Danny, Paul and Fede. The band made a quick impact with their first single “Illusion” in 2016, which was followed by the release of “Paramnesia” EP in January 2017.

PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS: Choosing Mental Illness As A Virtue Streaming In Full Within Alongside A Live Video Of ‘Finger Me’ Record Out Now Via Housecore Records

The wait is over! Choosing Mental Illness As A Virtue, the raging new full-length from PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS, has descended upon the masses since January 26th. We offer you the full album to stream alongside a live video of “Finger Me.”

Choosing Mental Illness As A Virtue will see release on CD, vinyl, and digital formats in North America via Housecore Records and in Europe by Season Of Mist. Physical order bundles are currently available via the Housecore Store at THIS LOCATION. For digital orders, point your browser HERE.

“Their creative input is fucking fantastic,” beams ANSELMO. “This is something that was very different from the first record where I was very staunch. I wanted it to be ugly. I was very firm that I was writing every fucking note. The thought was, ‘This is my contribution to ugly music right this second in a heavy metal vein.’ That was great at the time. Walk Through Exits Only made its own little statement that I am a free agent and I belong to no single band. This time, I worked closely with everyone. We tried different ideas together. It made the spirit of this thing come alive even more because of the enthusiasm these guys bring. It enhanced the integrity of the project.”

PHILIP H. ANSELMO hasn’t just paved his own path; he’s bulldozed it with his bare hands. His primal, powerful presence led Pantera to Grammy Award nominations, sales of twenty million albums worldwide, legions of diehard fans, and an indisputable heavy metal legacy. Simultaneously, Down carved out a distinct niche with a gold-selling debut and three more critically acclaimed releases. Superjoint made a triumphant return in 2016 and in the midst of everything, ANSELMO joined Scour alongside members of Pig Destroyer and Cattle Decapitation and teamed up with horror icon Bill Moseley for the Bill & Phil project. However, PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS speaks to a certain need for him.

Instead of treading the same ground, ANSELMO and his bandmates in THE ILLEGALS, open up another doorway altogether with their 2018 sophomore release, Choosing Mental Illness As A Virtue. It’s extreme, abrasive, aggressive, and anthemic. In other words, it’s purely ANSELMO.

Following up 2013’s Walk Through Exits Only, this new body of work hinges on no holds-barred lyrical misanthropy and insurgent instrumental intricacy as it sharpens any and all edges to guillotine precision. “It ain’t pretty,” ANSELMO exclaims. “It’s more straightforward and cohesive to a degree, but it still goes off the rails here and there. We went through it song after song cut and fucking dry. I was in a specific mindset. I wanted to further my endeavors into a genre of music that I adore. As all ten songs blow by, I wanted an unforgiving feel. This is what was on my mind. It’s a recorded capsule of time.”

Following a successful maiden touring cycle for THE ILLEGALS, the frontman hunkered down at his home studio in Louisiana to record what would become Choosing Mental Illness As A Virtue in 2014 and 2015. The lineup shifted as Stephen Taylor (Superjoint) transitioned from bass to guitar, Mike DeLeon (Flesh Horder, Being Killed, ex-MOD et al) joined as a guitarist, and Walter Howard (Grieved, Oppressive Force) took over bass duties. Meanwhile, Jose Manuel “Blue” Gonzalez (Superjoint, Warbeast) held down the drums. Through rigorous rehearsals and writing sessions, a framework for the new music took shape as ANSELMO wholeheartedly welcomed the ideas of his cohorts.

These names add to an already thrilling lineup including CARCASS, GAMA BOMB and more.

Under-18 tickets are available now and student Weekend tickets at just £50.

The news follows a highly impressive first year from Heavy Scotland, placing Edinburgh on the international metal map. Headliners Behemoth and Arch Enemy topped a stellar bill, which also included the likes of Fleshgod Apocalypse, Destruction, Finntroll, Havok and more. Garnering local and international acclaim, Heavy Scotland is fast becoming Scotland’s national heavy metal festival, and is the largest of its kind in the country’s capital of Edinburgh. Borne from a love of all things loud and with a passion for the local scene, Heavy Scotland is an event deserving of the attention so far received. Stay tuned for more information as it comes.

ON THORNS I LAY: New Track From Greek Death/Doom Veterans ‘Aegean Sorrow’ This March Via Alone Records

Aegean Sorrow, the impending new full-length from Greek death/doom veterans ON THORNS I LAY, will see release this March via Alone Records. In advance of its official unveiling, we offer up the consuming sounds of “Olethros Part II” for public consumption.

Offers guitarist Chris Dragamestianos of the track, “‘Olethros’ speaks about the loneliness of the soul in this cruel world we are living in and its journey towards salvation to paradise. ‘Olethros’ is a perfect example of how ON THORNS I LAY loves using acoustic guitar parts with melodies performed over Hammond keys. We also did it on the Crystal Tears and Future Narcotic albums and we will do it again in the future. The song continues with another trademark of our band: Beautiful double lead guitars over the rhythms and a great solo from our second guitar player. I really love this song; it’s a very special one for me.”

ON THORNS I LAY‘s Aegean Sorrow will see release on CD and digital formats via Alone Records and on vinyl via The Vinyl Division on March 12th with preorders to be announced in the coming weeks.

Aegean Sorrow was captured at Devasoundz Studios by Fotis Benardo (Rotting Christ, Septic Flesh etc.) and mixed and mastered at Unisound AB Studio by Dan Swanö (Edge Of Sanity, Bloodbath, Pan.Thy.Monium, Incision etc.). Easily among the most intense records of their more than twenty-year career, Aegean Sorrow fuses seemingly clashing concepts of catchy melodies and an incessantly mournful ambiance throughout. “We never stopped listening to our favorite albums – simple atmospheric doom death metal music since our formative years – so this is how Aegean Sorrow was created,” the band notes. “It is a mix taken from our first demos and our first four albums back in the ’90s, but with a modern sound. It is exactly what we love to hear, first of all, as fans. No trends, just pure feelings and music. Aegean Sorrow is the music we have dreamed of since we were teenagers. Waves of emotions flow over and over; it is a magical journey into the depth of our soul.

And if you missed it, sample the album’s title track “Aegean Sorrow”

ON THORNS I LAY began as a death metal band in 1992 under the name of Paralysis. By 1993 they changed their name to Phlebotomy and released the Beyond The Chaos demo and the Dawn Of Grief EP. The following year they settled on the name ON THORNS I LAY and recorded theVoluptuous demo which draw attention of France’s Holy Records who went on to release the death/doom sounds of their Sound Of Beautiful Experience debut. The band released five more albums and played countless shows and top festivals with the likes of Dream Theater, In Flames, Anathema, Amorphis, Katatonia, Septic Flesh, and many more before going on a twelve-year hiatus. 2015’s Eternal Silence meant the return of the band, back to the roots, playing traditional gothic-inspired doom metal at its best and reaping critical accolades from fans and media across the globe. And now, 2018 ushers in Aegean Sorrow.

ZEKE To Release New Album ‘Hellbender’ Their First Full-Length In Over Fourteen Years, Through ‘Relapse Records’ Three Songs Now Streaming Within

Seattle punk legends ZEKE return with their first new album in over fourteen years, titled Hellbender, set for release through Relapse Records.

Short, fast, loud, and to the fuckin’ point, Hellbender contains fifteen tracks laced with ZEKE’s signature mix of hyperspeed thrash-punk and Motörhead-possessed, hard as nails, rock ‘n’ roll. Complete with a raucous, in-your-face production by Jack Endino (Nirvana, High On Fire, The Accüsed), and completed with artwork by Hollis Tucker and Lee Goode, Hellbender is the culmination of a band twenty-five years into their career, sounding more aggressive, immediate, and turbo-charged than ever before! Ride to live…

ZEKE’s new album Hellbender is due out March 30th, 2018 on CD, LP, and digital via Relapse Records. Physical packages are available via Relapse.com HERE and Digital Downloads on Bandcamp HERE.

Additionally, ZEKE will embark on a headlining Spring European tour in support of Hellbender’s release next month. The tour commences on March 30th at Paaspop Festival in Schijndel, Netherlands and ends May 5th in Kassel, Germany. A short stint of regional dates in the Pacific Northwest will take place in the coming months as well. A full list of current confirmed tour dates is available below.

“Ride With Zeke” has quickly become the mantra for music fans who have accepted the invitation brought by on Heckler Magazine when they said, “Welcome the new monsters of rock.” It’s no doubt true that West Coast punk/thrashers ZEKE are monsters. Ever since their very first gig at the Rock City in Seattle in 1993, people have had no choice but to pay attention. Their records will assault you, and their live show will batter you. ZEKE established a nasty disposition while cutting teeth on their own brash hardcore punk.

ZEKE formed in 1993 with an original lineup of Blind Marky Felchtone, Donny Paycheck, Mark Pierce, and Dizzy Lee Roth. After releasing a couple of singles, they set out to bring their energetic recordings to the stage and established a more than formidable reputation as “the live band to beat” via concentrated regional touring. ZEKE went on to release their first two full-lengths — Super Sound Racing (1995) and Flat Tracker (1996) — on Scooch Pooch. ZEKE then hit the road again, unveiling a devastatingly high-octane live assault. The band was heralded as “rock and roll outlaws,” playing every conceivable venue that would have them.

Over the course of the next decade, ZEKE continued to build national exposure signing to Epitaph Records for the release of Kicked In The Teeth (1998) and Dirty Sanchez (2000). Throughout this time, ZEKE toured relentlessly around the world playing everything from stadiums with fifty-thousand people, to bars with ten people, but the spirit remained the same; rock like this might be the last show ever.

ZEKE went on to release their fifth full-length Death Alley (2001) on Aces And Eights and eventually signed to Relapse Records in October 2003. ZEKE set the cruise control to “white hot” on their Relapse debut, ‘Til The Livin’ End (2004). A relentless ride of rock and roll abandon, the album mixes punk nihilism with a hard-hitting metal extravagance. An album that burned from start to finish, with supercharged guitars, electrifying leads, and a disorderly punk attitude race full-throttle down a highway to Hell. Now in 2018, the Seattle punk legends return with their first new album in over fourteen years entitled Hellbender!